This first moth of the season has the most beautiful ethereal name. It is redolent of improbable cloistered maidens pining away under willow trees.
As the very first moth of the season I had to be sure it wasn’t a belted beauty ( very rare!) or a straight brindled beauty, which is hairier and appears a few weeks later.
Despite its very feminine name, this photo is most definitely a male.
There were two moths in the trap and although they showed some variation, they were both male pale brindled beauties. The reason I can be so confident is that the female is completely wingless and is to be found on tree trunks at this time of year, waiting for the winged male to visit .
There are so many moths to remember again after the dull winter months with none to see at all, that the brain has to be kick started again.
In order to keep my mother brain ticking during the winter I have made a list of over 250 species that I have confidently identified in the garden. I have put them in the order of their seasonal appearance with their Latin names. Unfortunately I don’t have the IT brain needed to up load this list ( currently in excel) onto my blog! When I have worked it out, I’ll share it with you (don’t hold your breath!)
Very Nice?
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wonderful moths to see, and nice write up- had my first today too, along with a Dotted Border
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Thanks! Got a satellite and a chestnut today. Would you like me to send you my list ?
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I don’t think my brain has ever ticked that well. 250 species is quite impressive!
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Don’t feel bad. I couldn’t remember the name of the first moth I caught this week!
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Wonderful. xx
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They are so beautiful and delicate-looking.
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Glad you are not put off by their hairiness!
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Not at all!
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How lovely.
I didn’t see many moths last year, the ones I did seemed to be yellow. Yellow underwing and a Canary shouldered thorn!
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Both summer beauties!
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How remarkable that you identified 250+ different moth species. I hope you will get to see many of them this year.
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Me too!
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